‘Focused’ Cullerton neglects to vote

SPRINGFIELD (AP) – Illinois Senate President John Cullerton was “so focused” on the goal of passing gay marriage legislation this week that he inadvertently neglected to cast his own vote on the bill.

The Chicago Democrat was one of six senators who didn’t vote on Tuesday’s measure. The amended bill easily passed his chamber 32-21 after winning House approval. The legislation was initially approved 34-21 in the state Senate in February after Cullerton pushed for a Valentine’s Day vote. He voted for the measure then.

Spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon tells the Chicago Sun-Times that Cullerton is “a leading and vocal supporter of marriage equality.” But she says Cullerton was “so focused on the final hurdle that we failed to record his ‘yes’ vote.”